Driver for my Dad?

[Z1ggy16]

Senior golfer, handicap bordering on infinity. Drives the ball maybe like 150 but I'm sure he can improve, he's just taken it up since retirement. I don't want to spend a ton since I have no idea if he'll stick with it or just get frustrated from sucking. He currently just borrows a friends stuff when they play. I'm on eBay looking for 12* senior flex options, and I have come across some Taylormade M2 D Type. Any other options that don't sound like a tin can that I could snag for <$70 or so?

[Springsteennut]

Try the Cobra F7 or F6. Both very forgiving and should be in your price range.

[beluga99]

I haven't seen Bobcat around for a while, but in his memory, I will suggest the SLDR-C. Be sure to pair it with your favourite shaft. From memory his was the Kusala Black 61 in stiff.

[James the Hogan Fan]

Wilson Staff D300. Very light and easy to swing, I snagged one new on closeout for $100 last year so I imagine used would be cheaper.

My dad, who is perhaps a little younger but also an infinity cap absolutely loved it, and he was swinging it with a stiff shaft he does not have the speed for. I think with a fit senior shaft your dad would do just fine.

[Z1ggy16]

Ah yes, let me get my 70 year old dad one of the least forgiving drivers of the last decade. I wonder how many heads good ol Bobcat has in stores.... 5... 10? More?

[Milfordlefty]

Hits it 150, straight? slice? pull? with roll? gets it up in the air? If he hits it in the air and relatively straight, then likely anything with 12° of loft and a senior flex shaft should be in his wheel house. The D type will help if he slices. Ping with SFT will also (you could go all the way back to a Ping K15 if you are trying to straighten out is drive) be of benefit. Cobra made some drivers with offset that will help a slice too.

[Z1ggy16]

Pretty straight but I don't think he gets enough hang time for it to matter that much. I've only hit balls with him once and he probably carries it like 100-120 yards, rest would be roll out. I asked him "on a good hit, how far might the ball go?" and he says 150. More than anything I want to get him lessons but he legitimately doesn't even have his own driver, so I need to start there. I tried to teach him a few things but he's been a baseball then rec softball player for probably 60 years... going to be really hard to break him of bad baseball swing-like habits. I've never seen somebody flip at the ball so badly in my life....

[Milfordlefty]

Going to be tough if a swing issue, not equipment. It is likely any driver which is ''draw' biased and sr flex likely can't hurt. If you could get him on a launch monitor and see his avg driver swing speed, it might give you a better idea if speed is the issue or face angle at delivery from flipping. Maybe this swing thought might help, tell him to swing to center field, to extend the "bat" out on the follow thru. Harder to flip when you are extending arms in front of you. Is he trying to punch singles?

[Z1ggy16]

I'm not sure what his swing thoughts are but what I saw from watching him, is a big hip sway in the BS, little to no shoulder turn, then speed generation from sliding back toward target and a big flip at the ball with hands/arms. Literally like he's hitting a baseball, but with a golf club. I gave him some tips but he's not really super mobile at this point so getting him to even just do a proper hip and shoulder turn was tough. I gave him some stretches and drills to do at home and whatnot but my guess is he'll happily just suck for a while, maybe with a few lessons on grip and just a proper turn, he'll improve some.

I live about 3hours away from him so there's not much I can do to help him personally. I'm also a horrible teacher so he won't improve much from me. I thought about strapping the Planemate on him but I didn't want to ruin the fun he was having while on the range with me.

[Golf64]

Cobra F Max superlite. New Air Max coming soon too.

[Milfordlefty]

How does he hit his irons? I think his sofball playing history is in his mind (I am assuming as an adult he played softball, not hardball). Softball is a long ball mentality. Swing hard to hit it over the fence. He "thinks" he needs to swing hard with a driver and your description of his swing sounds exactly like picture perfect home run swing. Only problem is the golf ball is on the ground, not at belt level and a clubhead face is flat, not round like a bat. Does he treat his iron swing like his driver? One can either change their swing to the current golf swing model or change equipment to fit, as Arnold Palmer said, your swing. Maybe a driving iron off the tee would have better results if he swings his irons with more of a golf swing. I know a guy on my league, started at age 65 with lessons. Now in early 80's, doesn't hit it far, but man it is always straight and in the air.

[Z1ggy16]

He hits irons worse because he doesn't quite get the feeling/concept of hitting "down" on an iron. Driver is better because he can hit level or slightly up, which is more similar to a baseball swing. He pretty much hits every iron shot thin because his low point is like 6 inches behind the ball. I tried helping him but he's a stubborn fella.

[Dpavs]

Tour Edge HL3 should be added to the mix

Also if you are lucky it looks like you might be able to snag a Callaway Epic Star driver around that price from auction.

[Milfordlefty]

Maybe lessons from a pro near his house. Christmas present? Maybe you can scout some teaching professionals and find one who has taught older beginners with a baseball swing. I really think a different club band-aid isn't going to have better results in the long run.

[Z1ggy16]

It's not even a different club.... he literally does not own a driver, and wants to start playing with his own or at least having to stop borrowing his buddy's stuff. If anything, he can at least use his own club to go to the range for practice once the weather gets better.

But yes, lessons is obviously in order. Like I said though, he's quite possibly the most stubborn human being I've ever met in all of my 31 years of life. I'm not sure he can drop the ego and admit he's horrible and go pay somebody younger than him give him lessons. I'll do him a solid and do the research for him on what pro to go see but I'm not paying for that, too lol.

[Dpavs]

Frankly I'm not sure lessons are a good suggestion or not. If he just wants to keep enjoying playing the way he has for some time now.. who cares what he shoots? There is need to understand what his goals are before going down that rabbit hole I think.

[Z1ggy16]

Well he's only been playing for... 3 months or so and probably only 4-5 times. I'll have to ask him what his end goal is. Going out and playing with his 2 friends at the course they live on and not care about score or getting better? then yeah lessons is pointless. He's pretty competitive though, he always pushed me to get better as a kid so I'm sure he'd treat himself the same. I know watching him hit balls, if he messed up, he's get mad and want to hit more balls until he made good contact.

 

[Milfordlefty]

Aahhhh! Got it. The TM M2 D is a good choice.

[blackngold_blood]

I know you said under $70 but there are a couple TEE EXS 10.5* drivers on the bay for around $100. They are adjustable and the stock Tensei shaft isn’t terrible either.